(Newser)
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New Mexico's biggest-ever wildfire may herald an onslaught of giant blazes in the western US, experts say. "We've been in a long drought cycle for the last 20 years, and conditions now are great for these type of fires," says an Arizona science professor. "Everything is in line," thanks in part to climate change and shifting land use. Indeed, future fires are poised to get "so big" that states won't be able to handle them themselves; they'll need "outside resources," says an analyst.

The Whitewater-Baldy fire has now burned 190,000 acres, and it may continue for weeks, the AP reports. The rugged terrain it's traversing is "impossible" for firefighters to tackle, says the state's governor, Susana Martinez. The flames may not die down until they're hit with monsoon-season rains this summer—but "we're transitioning from La Nina to El Nino, so we have no guidance to what's going to happen" rain-wise, says a meteorologist. Meanwhile, the fire is spreading in every direction.

Wild fires will increase because the sun is just now coming out of a 100yr solar minimum cool phase The 22.2yr Solar Cycle effects Earth's weather- The sun exhibits clusters of sunspot like the stitching on a baseball wherein solar magnetic flux follows the solar surface from pole to pole "stitching" its surface with cooler dark sunsots- Solar Scientists think Jupiters 10yr orbit may have something to do with wrapping up the solar magnetic flux because every 11 yrs the sun "comes to a boil" emitting high levels of intense radiation, instigating effects of the Solar Mortality Theory, then REVERSES POLES to enter a cooling faze- How does this pertain to the Earth's weather is this- At times of high sunspot numbers, the extra intense solar radiation causes DRAUGHTs on Earth middle latitudes where a warm atmosphere can carry more moisture- no rain, like what happened in 1980 solar peak When the sun reverses poles and starts to cool, guess what happens to all the extra moisture in atmosphere Right, it precipitates, sometimes causeing great floods (like the Jan 1993 Mississippi River floods wherein the Solar Scientists of NSO had told the California legislature NOT to shut off irrigation water to farmers summer of 1992 because our sun had just passed thru its solar max and was entering a cooling phase, that California would see a resumption of normal wet/dry season beginning fall of 1992- they did, with a avengence Why was this important- California legislature (in their infinite wisdom) was considering cutting off irrigation water to inland farmers because the 6yr draught threatened water supplies for the larger cities, LA & SD Impact would have decimated CA agri-business, so they only cut 25% and got by OK- don't hear about any gov't agency that did good, just the ones that mess up- oh well, such is life

acegammer5

Jun 1, 2012 9:46 AM CDT

Fires are a natural part of the ecosystem. It's a tragedy that people have lost lives, and property, but this is a process that has to happen from time to time. This should be as much a part of living in the region as hurricanes are along the Gulf. People living here should know that there will come a time where they will need to evacuate. I wish those in harms way the best of luck, but can we stop treating these fires as freak accidents. It's Mother Nature tidying up.